Visitor Restrictions

Limited visiting is now allowed at Salisbury District Hospital as coronavirus cases reduce and in line with updated national guidance. 

Visiting will be allowed in the hospital with each patient able to have one visitor a day for a maximum of one hour. In most cases these visitors will be limited to one close family contact or someone important to the patient. Visitors will be expected to provide their name and contact details for NHS Test and Trace purposes. 

Visits must be booked at least a day in advance with ward staff to avoid overcrowding and we ask that you call between 10.00 and 16.00 so the ward clerk can manage the administration and reduce the impact on clinical staff delivering care. Please note, this is a new booking system which has been introduced to safely manage visitor times - please bear with us whilst we implement this new process. 

All visitors must wear a face mask or covering at all times and will be expected to follow social distancing and infection prevention and control measures. In some situations, such as when visiting a patient who has suspected or confirmed COVID-19, specialised personal protective equipment may be required and full guidance will be provided to you by the ward. 

You should not visit any area of the hospital if you are unwell, especially with a high temperature or a new, persistent cough. 

In some circumstances, such as maternity support where visiting will be longer than an hour, Lateral Flow Testing will be required in line with national guidance but this will be discussed on an individual case by case basis.   

Exceptions to the general one visitor only rule include the Children’s Ward and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, vulnerable adults and patients nearing the end of life. Please contact the ward directly for further information in these instances. 

We encourage people wanting to visit loved ones in hospital to make use of the lateral flow tests that are now freely available. Information on how you can get hold of lateral flow tests is on this link https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing/regular-rapid-coronavirus-tests-if-you-do-not-have-symptoms/  or you can pick them up at your local chemist/pharmacy or at your local COVID-19 testing site.

End of Life Care
Please contact the ward directly before visiting who will do everything possible to support your visit. If you are likely be visiting for more than an hour, lateral flow testing will be required. 

Maternity Appointments 

Partners can accompany expectant mothers to appointments, but will be required to complete a lateral flow test at home prior to the appointment. 

Dropping Someone off at the Hospital 

When dropping off a friend or relative for an appointment at the hospital visitors are encouraged to remain in the car unless accompanying the patient is absolutely essential. This is to reduce footfall through the hospital and protect patients, staff and visitors. 

Springs Restaurant & Hedgerows Café 

The restaurant and café are now only available to Salisbury District Hospital pass holders– no public are allowed. This is to prioritise availability of meals to our staff and to reduce public footfall in the hospital. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause. 

Vending machines offering hot and cold beverages and a range of snacks are located on levels 3 and 4 of the main hospital building and directly outside of the Day Surgery Unit. These will continue to be available to both staff and visitors. 

We ask for the public’s help in respecting these rules.